Yamal rejects Real criticism, says he plays without fear

VIDEO SHOWS: VIDEO SHOWS: BARCELONA HOLDING TRAINING SESSION AHEAD OF FIRST LEG AGAINST FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO IN THE FIRST LEG IN THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS/ BARCELONA COACH HANSI FLICK AND PLAYER LAMINE YAMAL HOLDING PRESS CONFERENCE

SHOWS: SANT JOAN DESPI, SPAIN (APRIL 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. LAMINE YAMAL WALKS INTO NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) LAMINE YAMAL, FCB PLAYER, TALKING ABOUT HIS FIRST CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINALS:

"While I'm winning, they can't say anything. If they beat me, then yes.”

3. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) LAMINE YAMAL, FCB PLAYER, TALKING ABOUT HIS FIRST CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINALS:

“I have the motivation and those butterflies on my belly before the match, I think this is good, all the players we are experiencing it. But fear… I let it behind in the park in Mataro long time a go."

5. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) LAMINE YAMAL, FCB PLAYER, TALKING ABOUT HIS FIRST CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINALS:

“I wouldn’t call it pressure. I take it like something good, like a new experience that I would enjoy again. I don’t take it as a pressure, I take it as a good thing, and I feel like I have to enjoy the moment.”

7. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) LAMINE YAMAL, FCB PLAYER, TALKING ABOUT HIS FIRST CHAMPIONS SEMI-FINALS:

“Well, I think in football, there is no such thing as age. It’s a sport that depends on the quality and mentality of the person. There’s not age in football. If you’re ready, you’re ready. We are a very young team. We are showing that we are at a very high level. Age is just a number.”

9. VARIOUS OF BARCELONA TRAINING

STORY: Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal has shrugged off criticism over his comments on Real Madrid, after he said Barcelona's bitter rivals 'simply can't beat us' this season.

That comment came in the wake of Barcelona's 3-2 Copa del Rey triumph at the weekend, but speaking ahead of a Champions League semi final with Inter Milan, Yamal doubled down.

"While I'm winning, they can't say anything. If they beat me, then yes," Yamal told reporters on Tuesday (April 29).

The 17-year-old is having a stellar season, netting 14 times for the Catalans from 48 appearances, and could land the treble if Barca maintain their lead at the top of La Liga and take the Champions League title.

(Production: Horaci Garcia, Iain Axon)